Week 2: Orange County Otters at Baltimore Hawks
Week 1 was a failure for both of the teams in this contest. Orange County Otters failed to cross the goal line in their week 1 loss against the Outlaws while the Hawks suffered a loss to the young franchise in Las Vegas. Both teams came today thirsty for a win. Baltimore would play host to this early season game, the first of two matches these teams are scheduled this season.
The opening drive was taken by the visiting team, and two early penalties gave the otters some field to work with but soon after they incurred two of their own. The yardage lost on those was too much for them and they had to punt on their first drive. The first Hawks drive started well too, as they claimed a first down chipping away at the Otter defense. At midfield though they struggled to move forward and had to boot the ball back to their opposition. Orange County had to start their drive from their own 3 yard line. Several runs and a few great strikes to their talented receivers dug them out of that yardage hole and gave them some momentum. However, the momentum quickly shifted to Baltimore after they crossed midfield when Leroy Jenkins dropped the ball and was picked up by Raphael Reyes of the Hawks. On the ensuing Hawks drive Scrub Kyubee was successful moving the ball via the air attack but when they shifted to the running game they accumulated two harsh penalties, so their drive stalled and had to punt. Orange County failed to even gain a first own, which has been somewhat rare for them. After the Otters punt, time was low on the First quarter's clock as Baltimore ran it out with some runs, leaving all zeros on the clock as 4th down approached.
The second quarter opened with a punt, and the Otters issues on offense continues. Another three and out delivered the ball back to the Hawks. The punt with a special teams penalty of Baltimore pinned them deep in their own territory. Baltimore found some stride though and was aided by an Otters penalty for too many men on the field. On the following first down though, an illegal shift on the Hawks made it a hard first down to get. Their three tries were stopped and the Hawks had to punt, sadly. Turk Turkleton put the ball at the 12 for Mike Boss to start his drive. After two failed short gain attempts rookie Dermot Lavelle broke up a pass intended for Bradley Westfield preventing an Otter first down. The Otters punted and gave the Hawks great field position starting in Otter territory. Baltimore tried to capitalize on the great field position but was set back slightly due to another illegal shift penalty. On third down, needing 15 Kyubee connected with Matthew Vincent for a 12 yard strike. Not enough for a first down, but it set up a 45 yard attempt for Turkleton. He lined it up and booted it, hooking a little left but inside the uprights. The first score of the game goes to Baltimore. The ensuing kickoff did not go well at all for Orange County. Westfield tried to do some fancy footwork to outplay the Hawk Special Teams unit but ultimately was brought down for no gain at the 5. Another massive hole for the Otters to find their way out of, but they'd soon dig it deeper. Boss was sacked in the end zone for a Safety by linebacker Erasmo Broadway. The scoreboard flashed 5-0 Baltimore and the crown was hyped. After the free kick, Baltimore once again was inside enemy territory and prepared to strike. Kyubee threw a couple passes getting them closer and closer to the goal line but after a stuffed run and an incomplete pass, Turkleton was on the field again for a 45 yard attempt. Again, he kicked it and it hooked left, this time it hooked too far and missed. A slight break for the Otters, they took over at their 28, but a few small passes and a penalty stalled their drive, once again punting to Baltimore. Baltimore went three and out but on 4th with 1:54 left, they opted to take a very ill advised timeout. Saving time for Orange County seemed like a very odd tactic. After the punt, Boss threw two straight incompletions and a two yard run, Orange County was also forced to punt. Maybe in a favor of good sportsmanship, the Otters also took a timeout before their punt. After a decent return, the Hawks ad under a minute and were at the Otters 49 yard line. Playing conservative they called three straight run plays. After the first two they whistled for a timeout. After the third, gaining a first down on the 39 yard line, Turkleton came in to try and get a last second field goal in. Without hesitation he booted it and no hook or slice, split the uprights, adding to the Baltimore lead. The 56 yard kick was the last play of the half.
The opening of the second half gave the ball to Baltimore again and with their 8 point lead they looked to build on it. Kyubee took to the air frequently, connecting with Cooper Christmas for a first down and a 17 yard gain. After a short pass, an incompletion and a short run, though, the Hawks had to punt. Getting the ball with decent field position, Vickers ran and Boss threw the Otters into Hawks territory finally. However on a second and 8, Mike Boss threw a very wobbly pass right into the hands of Erasmo Broadway, and turned it over. Baltimore's turn with the ball didn't get very far though, only gaining six yards, they had to punt. The Otters woes though continued. A sack on first down presented them with a 2nd and 19 situation, and Boss nailed Ryan Phelps for an 18 yard strike, needing only one yard on third, the Hawks defense stepped up again and sacked Boss a second time in the drive. Langdon punted the ball back to Baltimore, where Scrub missed his target on three straight throws bringing out the punting unit again. Keeping the ball out of Boss's hands and in the arms of Bowers and Jenkins, the Otters handed off four straight times for a total of 18 yards. Boss took the ball back, threw an incomplete and then was sacked for 7 yards, bringing up another fourth and punt. A solid punt left the Hawks at their own 11 to start their drive and Kyubee began digging them out with a quick strike to Christmas, but a rush by Marcus Robinson resulted in a hard hit by rookie Ragnar Kronen, and the beast scooped the ball up and rumbled 2 yards before being dogpiled on. The Otters had the ball at the Hawks 22 yards, and on 2 straight plays, they succeeded to get the ball into the end zone. A 14 yard strike to Bradley Westfield earned them 7 points, and only a 1 point deficit. The kickoff, with time low in the third quarter, gave the Hawks the ball at their own 21. Three straight runs of small gains led to a 4th down entering the final quarter of play.
After taking the punt the Otters they didn't do much. A 5 yard run and a sack on 3rd down ended their first drive of the quarter. During the ensuing punt, Darlane Farlane returned it into Otter territory. Orange County stopped them for what they thought would be a three and out, but on fourth down, the Hawks decided that their field position was advantageous so they would go for it on a 4th and 6. The gutsy play call paid off as Scrub Kyubee hooked up with Vincent for a 21 yard screamer. Now in the red zone, a combo of Farlane and Robinson got them closer and on third, Vincent again came up clutch with a 7 yard pull in, extending the drive and placing it inside the 10. After a quick dropped pass, Kyubee handed the ball off to Farlane and he took it up the gut and across the goal line. The Hawks once again had their 8 point lead. The kickoff put the Otters just behind their own 20 and Boss came out firing to Bowers, snagging a first down right out of the gate. A couple runs put the Otters in a third and three position. Boss threw the ball to his usually reliable receiver, Westfield, but before it got to him, Antoine Delacour sniped the pass and was taken down 7 yards later. The crown was energized and on first down, Kyubee lined up in the shotgun but a timely Free Safety blitz caught the veteran QB unaware and delivered a sack. With a long 2nd down, the Hawks tried two straight runs, gaining back only 4 yards and they were forced to punt. A little over 5 minutes left in regulation, the Otters began their drive on their own 26 yard line. Three runs by Jenkins left them 1 yard shy on 4th down. A gutsy play call had Boss deliver a 21 yard pass to Phelps for a very solid first down. With time dwindling fast, the Otters spiked the ball and used their timeouts as they marched downfield and into Hawks territory. On a 4th and 2 Boss relied on their Tight End, George Wright for a drive extending 6 yard pass. After using their final timeout, they found themselves in a 3rd and 7 situation. Boss rolled left looking for Phelps but before he could get the pass off Defensive End, Kurt Hendrix, flattened the QB for a sack. Facing a 4th and 13, they put the ball into their star running back's hands only to watch Leroy churn for a short gain. With that turnover on downs, Baltimore ran out the clock for their first win of the season.
Statistically this match up was pretty fair. What seemed to me like the reason that Baltimore came away with their victory was their ability to get to the QB and the solid field position they got the ball so many times, versus how often Orange County had to start from deep in their own field.
Both quarterbacks didn't do great. Boss made some errors while Kyubee played game manager most of the time. The star offensively for the Hawks was Darlane Farlane. 92 yards and a TD. For the Otters, their offensive star was Bradley Westfield who had 77 yards, averaging 15+ per reception, and he took in their only score of the game.
This game definitely came down to defense, because without those crucial 3rd down sacks that happened time and time again, and the safety to pad the lead in the 2nd quarter, who knows if the Otters offense would have found their groove.
MVP: Erasmo Broadway - 7 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Pass Deflection, 1 Interception and 1 Safety.
(1,852 words)
GRADED
Week 1 was a failure for both of the teams in this contest. Orange County Otters failed to cross the goal line in their week 1 loss against the Outlaws while the Hawks suffered a loss to the young franchise in Las Vegas. Both teams came today thirsty for a win. Baltimore would play host to this early season game, the first of two matches these teams are scheduled this season.
The opening drive was taken by the visiting team, and two early penalties gave the otters some field to work with but soon after they incurred two of their own. The yardage lost on those was too much for them and they had to punt on their first drive. The first Hawks drive started well too, as they claimed a first down chipping away at the Otter defense. At midfield though they struggled to move forward and had to boot the ball back to their opposition. Orange County had to start their drive from their own 3 yard line. Several runs and a few great strikes to their talented receivers dug them out of that yardage hole and gave them some momentum. However, the momentum quickly shifted to Baltimore after they crossed midfield when Leroy Jenkins dropped the ball and was picked up by Raphael Reyes of the Hawks. On the ensuing Hawks drive Scrub Kyubee was successful moving the ball via the air attack but when they shifted to the running game they accumulated two harsh penalties, so their drive stalled and had to punt. Orange County failed to even gain a first own, which has been somewhat rare for them. After the Otters punt, time was low on the First quarter's clock as Baltimore ran it out with some runs, leaving all zeros on the clock as 4th down approached.
The second quarter opened with a punt, and the Otters issues on offense continues. Another three and out delivered the ball back to the Hawks. The punt with a special teams penalty of Baltimore pinned them deep in their own territory. Baltimore found some stride though and was aided by an Otters penalty for too many men on the field. On the following first down though, an illegal shift on the Hawks made it a hard first down to get. Their three tries were stopped and the Hawks had to punt, sadly. Turk Turkleton put the ball at the 12 for Mike Boss to start his drive. After two failed short gain attempts rookie Dermot Lavelle broke up a pass intended for Bradley Westfield preventing an Otter first down. The Otters punted and gave the Hawks great field position starting in Otter territory. Baltimore tried to capitalize on the great field position but was set back slightly due to another illegal shift penalty. On third down, needing 15 Kyubee connected with Matthew Vincent for a 12 yard strike. Not enough for a first down, but it set up a 45 yard attempt for Turkleton. He lined it up and booted it, hooking a little left but inside the uprights. The first score of the game goes to Baltimore. The ensuing kickoff did not go well at all for Orange County. Westfield tried to do some fancy footwork to outplay the Hawk Special Teams unit but ultimately was brought down for no gain at the 5. Another massive hole for the Otters to find their way out of, but they'd soon dig it deeper. Boss was sacked in the end zone for a Safety by linebacker Erasmo Broadway. The scoreboard flashed 5-0 Baltimore and the crown was hyped. After the free kick, Baltimore once again was inside enemy territory and prepared to strike. Kyubee threw a couple passes getting them closer and closer to the goal line but after a stuffed run and an incomplete pass, Turkleton was on the field again for a 45 yard attempt. Again, he kicked it and it hooked left, this time it hooked too far and missed. A slight break for the Otters, they took over at their 28, but a few small passes and a penalty stalled their drive, once again punting to Baltimore. Baltimore went three and out but on 4th with 1:54 left, they opted to take a very ill advised timeout. Saving time for Orange County seemed like a very odd tactic. After the punt, Boss threw two straight incompletions and a two yard run, Orange County was also forced to punt. Maybe in a favor of good sportsmanship, the Otters also took a timeout before their punt. After a decent return, the Hawks ad under a minute and were at the Otters 49 yard line. Playing conservative they called three straight run plays. After the first two they whistled for a timeout. After the third, gaining a first down on the 39 yard line, Turkleton came in to try and get a last second field goal in. Without hesitation he booted it and no hook or slice, split the uprights, adding to the Baltimore lead. The 56 yard kick was the last play of the half.
The opening of the second half gave the ball to Baltimore again and with their 8 point lead they looked to build on it. Kyubee took to the air frequently, connecting with Cooper Christmas for a first down and a 17 yard gain. After a short pass, an incompletion and a short run, though, the Hawks had to punt. Getting the ball with decent field position, Vickers ran and Boss threw the Otters into Hawks territory finally. However on a second and 8, Mike Boss threw a very wobbly pass right into the hands of Erasmo Broadway, and turned it over. Baltimore's turn with the ball didn't get very far though, only gaining six yards, they had to punt. The Otters woes though continued. A sack on first down presented them with a 2nd and 19 situation, and Boss nailed Ryan Phelps for an 18 yard strike, needing only one yard on third, the Hawks defense stepped up again and sacked Boss a second time in the drive. Langdon punted the ball back to Baltimore, where Scrub missed his target on three straight throws bringing out the punting unit again. Keeping the ball out of Boss's hands and in the arms of Bowers and Jenkins, the Otters handed off four straight times for a total of 18 yards. Boss took the ball back, threw an incomplete and then was sacked for 7 yards, bringing up another fourth and punt. A solid punt left the Hawks at their own 11 to start their drive and Kyubee began digging them out with a quick strike to Christmas, but a rush by Marcus Robinson resulted in a hard hit by rookie Ragnar Kronen, and the beast scooped the ball up and rumbled 2 yards before being dogpiled on. The Otters had the ball at the Hawks 22 yards, and on 2 straight plays, they succeeded to get the ball into the end zone. A 14 yard strike to Bradley Westfield earned them 7 points, and only a 1 point deficit. The kickoff, with time low in the third quarter, gave the Hawks the ball at their own 21. Three straight runs of small gains led to a 4th down entering the final quarter of play.
After taking the punt the Otters they didn't do much. A 5 yard run and a sack on 3rd down ended their first drive of the quarter. During the ensuing punt, Darlane Farlane returned it into Otter territory. Orange County stopped them for what they thought would be a three and out, but on fourth down, the Hawks decided that their field position was advantageous so they would go for it on a 4th and 6. The gutsy play call paid off as Scrub Kyubee hooked up with Vincent for a 21 yard screamer. Now in the red zone, a combo of Farlane and Robinson got them closer and on third, Vincent again came up clutch with a 7 yard pull in, extending the drive and placing it inside the 10. After a quick dropped pass, Kyubee handed the ball off to Farlane and he took it up the gut and across the goal line. The Hawks once again had their 8 point lead. The kickoff put the Otters just behind their own 20 and Boss came out firing to Bowers, snagging a first down right out of the gate. A couple runs put the Otters in a third and three position. Boss threw the ball to his usually reliable receiver, Westfield, but before it got to him, Antoine Delacour sniped the pass and was taken down 7 yards later. The crown was energized and on first down, Kyubee lined up in the shotgun but a timely Free Safety blitz caught the veteran QB unaware and delivered a sack. With a long 2nd down, the Hawks tried two straight runs, gaining back only 4 yards and they were forced to punt. A little over 5 minutes left in regulation, the Otters began their drive on their own 26 yard line. Three runs by Jenkins left them 1 yard shy on 4th down. A gutsy play call had Boss deliver a 21 yard pass to Phelps for a very solid first down. With time dwindling fast, the Otters spiked the ball and used their timeouts as they marched downfield and into Hawks territory. On a 4th and 2 Boss relied on their Tight End, George Wright for a drive extending 6 yard pass. After using their final timeout, they found themselves in a 3rd and 7 situation. Boss rolled left looking for Phelps but before he could get the pass off Defensive End, Kurt Hendrix, flattened the QB for a sack. Facing a 4th and 13, they put the ball into their star running back's hands only to watch Leroy churn for a short gain. With that turnover on downs, Baltimore ran out the clock for their first win of the season.
Statistically this match up was pretty fair. What seemed to me like the reason that Baltimore came away with their victory was their ability to get to the QB and the solid field position they got the ball so many times, versus how often Orange County had to start from deep in their own field.
Both quarterbacks didn't do great. Boss made some errors while Kyubee played game manager most of the time. The star offensively for the Hawks was Darlane Farlane. 92 yards and a TD. For the Otters, their offensive star was Bradley Westfield who had 77 yards, averaging 15+ per reception, and he took in their only score of the game.
This game definitely came down to defense, because without those crucial 3rd down sacks that happened time and time again, and the safety to pad the lead in the 2nd quarter, who knows if the Otters offense would have found their groove.
MVP: Erasmo Broadway - 7 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Pass Deflection, 1 Interception and 1 Safety.
(1,852 words)
GRADED
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